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Fifty or so former felons rallied on the steps of the state capitol Tuesday, asking the state legislature to automatically restore their civil rights. The state has taken big steps in notifying nonviolent offenders on how to apply for their rights, but in many cases, they still can’t get a professional license. State Senator Frederica Wilson has a bill that would make the restoration automatic and grant professional licenses while an application is pending.

“These are people who have gotten college degrees and everything, and because they did not have, in many cases, proper representation, their rights will never be restored and they can’t work,” said Wilson.

Similar legislation has failed the last two years.